Dumb-bell.



Patented Aug. 8, I899. J. ROBINSON.

DUMB BELL No. 630,74l.

(Applicntiqn filed Mar. 9, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

INVENTOR JO6EPH ROBIN 60M W AW WITNESSES.

Hi6 H'rroRmE cs Patented Aug. 8, I899. J. ROBINSON.

DUMB BELL (Application filed Mar. 9, 1899,)

2 Sheets8haet z (No Model.)

INVENTOR' JOSEPH Rosmeorv ms HTTORNEY UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ROBINSON, OF IIONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EUGEN SANDOW, OF SAMEPLACE.

BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,741, dated August8, 1899.

Application filed March 9, 1899. serial No; 708,390. (No model.)

1'0 a. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ROBINSON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residingat Hammersmith, London, England, have. invented new anduseful Improvements in Dumb-Bells for Physical-Culture Exercises, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dumbbells; and it consists inthe application of one or more springs to the dumb-bell, so as to causethe same to require a firm grip when held in thehand. This firm grip ofthe dumbbell is intended to and does causea continuous tension of themuscles of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers when used forphysicalculture exercises.

The invention consists principally in the application of flat, curved,or spiral springs or rubber or compressed-air springs or a combinationof several springs to the interior or to the handle portion of thedumb-bell in such a position and mannerthat when in use the grasp on thehandle will cause the spring or springs to be compressed.

The dumb-bells may be constructed of wood, compressed pulp, metal, orother suitable material.

The manner in which myinvention is to be performed or carried intopractical effect will be readily understood on reference to the twosheets of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanationthereof.

It will be obvious that various ways of giving the expansive action tothe bar or handle may be adopted without departing from the distinctivefeatures of my invention; but for the sake of illustration I have shownon the drawings various different forms which the invention may take. 1p

In the modification shownat Figure 1 the bar a and the'two bells b aredivided-into two parts longitudinally, being hinged together at c at oneend, and a bow-spring d fixed between the two to keep the two sectionsapart when not being held in the hand, the open ends being preventedfrom being extended too far apart by a band 6 of leather or othersuitable material.

In the modification shown partly in section at Fig. 2 the two sectionsare held together by screws and are distended by coiled springs d.

In Fig. 3.the two sections are separated by a bow-spring d, as in Fig.1, and are ,kept

in place by steady-pins h, and are prevented from expanding too much byindia-rubber rings 6.

In the modification shown in longitudinal section at Fig. 4. andtransverse section at Fig; 5 the bells Z) are hollow and are dividedtransversely instead of longitudinally. They are held together by ascrew f. The handle consists of a series of spring-bars a bowed out inthe center, which must be compressed when the handle is grasped.

The modification shown at Figs. 6 and 7 is somewhat similar, with theaddition of a spi ral spring i inside, the tension of which can beincreased or diminished by turning the screw f.

Figs. 8 and 9 resemble Fig. 2, with the exception thattwo coiled springsg are used at each end instead of one and the sections are kept fromexpanding too much by india-rubber bands 6.

In the modification shown partially in sec* tion at Fig. 10 the bells bare made hollow, with conical centersinside. The handle is made of aseries of bars a, bowed in the center and with their ends a beveled tofit against the cones inside the bells. The latter are held together bythe screwed rod f and the cones are forced inward, so as to expand thehandle, by coiled springs g. p

In the modification shown in partial sectional elevation at Fig. 11 andtransverse section at Fig. 12 the interior of each bell b is made in abox form and the ends of the curved bars Ct, which form the handle, fitinside the same,being expanded by split circular springs Zc'inside theircranked ends.

I claim as my invention 1. A' dumb-bell having a handle part composed ofa plurality of parts adapted to be compressed together by the hand, asand for the purpose described.

2. A dumb-bell having a handle consisting of a number of parts andresilient means for expanding said parts, adapted to be compressed bythe hand, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

' JOSEPH ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. Roonn, G. W. SMITH.

